Our "Golden Route" tour will take you further to two cities besides Lhasa: the “Heroic Town” Gyantse and Tibet’s second largest city Shigatse. Explore the unique beauty of the tranquil turquoise waters of Yamdrok Lake. You’ll also have a chance to visit Tashilumpu, the home of the Panchen Lama.

Day 1 Arrive in Lhasa

Upon your arrival, our local guide will meet you and transfer you to old town Lhasa city. From airport to Lhasa city is 68km, around one hour and half drive will take you to the holy city Lhasa; from the train station it is only 15km and takes 20 minutes by drive. On the way, you can enjoy the heart-beating highland view along the Yarlong Tsangpo River (the longest river in Tibet). The rest time is free for relax, drink more water for a better high plateau acclimatization.

Day 2 Tour of Lhasa

The first day of sightseeing starts from Lhasa's cardinal landmark-Potala Palace, a structure of massive portions. Its towering image already appearing on various occasions, but your first sight of the Potala will still be an awe-inspiring moment. It takes at least a good 2-hour to visit those rooms, halls and chapels. In the afternoon, we will drop a visit of the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet. Everyday, pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek a long distance to the temple. The temple is the product of Han, Tibetan and Nepalese architectural techniques. Then we will visit Barkhor, the oldest street in a very traditional city in Tibet.

Day 3 Tour of Lhasa

This day's sightseeing begins with these white monastic buildings piled up on the hillside. Walking up to the hill is a pleasant thing, an easy break from the solemn ambience inside the halls and chapels. At the plat roof of hillside, you can have very good views of the whole Lhasa city and the distant mountains. Drepung is one of Lhasa's two great Gelugpa monasteries, Later after lunch, witness the Buddhist doctrines debating session at Sera Monastery. With golden roofs and whitewashed walls, this fifteenth-century monastery is one of the six great Gelukpa sect academies in Tibet.

Day 4 Lhasa / Gyantse [3980m] / Shigatse [3840m], 360km, 6-7hrs drive

In the morning drive to Gyantse along the Kyichu River. On the Kamba La (4796 m) have a fantastic view of the holy Lake Yamdrok (4441 m), one of the four holy lakes in Tibet and the largest habitat of waterfowls in south Tibet. Then continue to Gyantse, you can enjoy Ningjinkangsang Snow Mountain and Karola Glacier from a distance on the way as well. Upon arrival in Gyantse, pay a visit to Palkhor Monastery and Kumbum Stupa, which is famous for its very unique architecture, sculpture, and mural painting art.

Day 5 Shigatse / Lhasa 270km, 5hrs drive

Tashilumpo Monastery, Shigatse Today, you’ll visit Thashilunpo Monastery, the throne of Panchen Lama. Afternoon, drive back to Lhasa along Yarlong Tsangpo River via south path with a slightly different route. So, sit back and enjoy another full day of breathless mountains under an endless Himalayan sky. After you arrive at Lhasa, you would have plenty of time on your own to explore what you have missed last time, free walk on the old town street, try unique Tibetan food & tea, etc. Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 6 Tour Ends

Meet your guide in the hotel lobby and take a last memorable look at the holy city before being transported to the airport/train station.

What's included in this price?

Transport: Private minivan or minibus with driver

Free Lhasa airport / train pick-up and drop-off

Twin-sharing / double room accommodation in Tibet

Local English-speaking Tibetan guide

All entrance fees of sightseeing places mentioned in itinerary

All necessary Tibet permits

Government tax

What's excluded in this price?

Chinese Visa fee

Tips for the guide and driver

Flight or train tickets into and out of Lhasa

Meals not included in the itinerary: Lunch and Dinner

Personal expenses such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone calls, etc

※What is a Private Tour?

A Private Tibet Tour Package means you will have your own private guide, driver, and vehicle for your own disposal. You don't have to share the vehicle with others even if you are a single traveler. You would have full attention of your guide and driver. Our professional guide would love to share local culture, knowledge and stories.

Your private guide would also help you make an easier, comfortable, flexible and enjoyable tour. You can stop on the road to get a rest or take pictures during the drive. You have the flexibility of changing the visiting order of attractions or extending the visiting time at some tourist sites.

When traveling with your family or friends, a private tour would be your first choice.

※Arrival Pick-up / Departure See-off

We will arrange the private airport or train station pick-up and see-off for you. Upon your arrival in Lhasa, you can find our guide waiting at the pick-up area, holding a name sign, welcome you with a warm smile. You will be transferred to hotel. Drink more water, get enough rest, take some time to acclimatize to the high altitude on the first day of your arrival.

※Accommodation Choices

For private tour, we can arrange hotels according to your requirements. There are options of budget guesthouse, 3 star hotel, 4 star hotel, high-end luxury hotel or bouquet heritage hotel. If you have your own preferred hotel, just let us know, we will help you with the booking, everything would be arranged as per your interests.

※Meal Choices

Our tour packages generally include breakfasts. Meanwhile, lunches and dinners are optional to be arranged either by yourself or by us.

It’s easy to find nice restaurants in Lhasa, and you could also ask for suggestions from your guide. They always know where you can find something tasty.

The price would be different according to different food:

1. If you choose noodles, around RMB 10-15 per person.

2. If you like some fast food like KFC, around RMB 20-35 per person.

3. If you prefer some food at a decent restaurant, around RMB 50-70 per person.

4. The local Tibetan hotpot, around RMB 80-100 per person. That is a really good one too!